angelstrings

Thank you for the warm words of encouragement. It really helped me start my day.

Is 5 years long enough to know I'm in the wrong field? I keep asking myself. I kind of knew I had chosen the wrong field while I was still in school. However, I always did so well in class and had a 3.9 GPA. My clinical instructors liked me and I could literally get along with everyone. I kept my nose in the books, and really enjoyed learning new stuff and taking exams. First medsurg job I think I was in a honeymoon period. No matter how hard things were I still kept pressing onward and enjoyed the camaraderie of my companions, doctors, nurses and so on. Second medsurg job was much the same. I just wanted to relocate to a totally new and exciting place and experience nursing there. So I did. Medsurg became a quickly fatiguing job, and I saw no end of it. I could literally see myself doing this when I'm 70. No thanks. Then I tried my hand at PACU, which was SO out of my comfort zone. I am naturally "tightly wound" so even though I was doing well in the books side of training, I was freezing up and having panic attacks on the floor. I cut my losses. Then I obtained work at a juvenile facility. I love my coworkers, and love my interactions with the population I serve. Here's the but...The workflow is not congruent to a good outcome for me, I fear. There is no computerized charting. I have made errors based on faulty interpretation of what the doctor wrote (hand writing). No harm done. But in all my time in hospitals nothing like this ever happened to me. I am stuck between wondering if I should move on to find another nursing job, or simply go back to school. If I do go back, I am ashamed to say that there is nothing that I have any interest in. I will be choosing something based on how much I can earn-just as I did when I chose nursing. I keeping going back and forth because, while it's not my dream job, I actually DO LOVE the work I do while I'm doing it. On the other hand, too many more of these mistakes and I WILL be dismissed. Maybe better now to quit and move on to something else? I know that most of the time, it isn't even about the work, but the support from coworkers, and the training you receive during orientation. My training left way too much to be desired. The job itself has let go way too many other nurses. I wasn't there so I don't know all of the reasons. Even my manager tells me, I'm a good nurse. She wants me to stay. I really love them all. I just know what I see, and each of my mistakes go right back to poor workflow, and refusing to change workflow so that the same errors don't happen again. I'm late 30's. I don't want to keep searching and fiddling around. Does any of this sound familiar? What did you do?

Hello-- I just sent my application paperwork off to the AK board to get my license. I am so excited about the possibility of moving! I have 1.5 years of nursing experience, and have some questions for anyone who may know...How difficult is it to get work in AK being out of state? It seems like everywhere I look online, there are opportunities for travel nursing. But, I don't necessarily want to travel, but would like to settle down and sink in some roots. What is the advantage of hiring a traveler as opposed to someone wanting to settle down in AK? What's it like for someone out of state trying to get on in an Anchorage or Fairbanks hospital? I had a professional resume drawn up, complete with cover letter, and will start submitting these and calling HR offices as soon as I get my AK license. Any advice on how to better my chances? Thanks in advance!

I just wanted to stop in and offer a HUGE thankyou to all who've posted back to me. I have been checking out the webside HH, and find it very informative. I was actually about to go the same route as many new travel nurses, meaning I had a company picked out and was only focusing on it. However now, I am applying with other agencies, based on what I research about them. I am starting to see in life that it-life/what I want-isn't going to just fall in my lap. I know it should be no big surprise, but I think a combination of fatigue and fear have stood in my way for too long. It's time to make time, sit down, and do the work to get what I want. Thanks again.

Thank you so much for your response. I learned a lot from it! Take care--

Hey guys, any takers?

Hi everyone, I am going to start travel nursing sometime around the first of the year. How do you go about researching the potential hospital you're going to? Second, does anyone have a link to a post, or any direct advice, regarding what ducks I need to have lined up before taking an assignment? I've read/heard various things about housing and pay, and just want to make sure I'm not biting off more than I can currently chew. Thanks!

thanks, but I already did it. No infection, no complaints. Just beautiful!

Hello--I'm considering the Peace Corps, and am afraid of letting my RN license lapse and having to take the NCLEX all over again when I get back. How can I find out how long it takes of being unemployed before that happens? Thanks!

Hi g3rly! I just now saw your response to my earlier post. Thanks so much for your vote of confidence!!! I need it now, just when I'm beginning to get my resume together, and look online to find potential employers to start 'hounding.' It's kindof discouraging to consider what I'm up against, like being an out-of-state applicant, and having only a year of experience. But who knows, right? I mean, the answer is most definitely NO if I never try, so might as well get up and at it. Thanks again.

Hi everyone! I've been an RN for one year now, and absolutely LOVE it. I like where I work, but not where I live, and would like to move to WA. I'm not picky about where in WA, because adventure is half the game. Besides, if I can just get my foot in the door as an out of state nurse, I could transfer to another location in WA if I didn't like the first one I came to. What are the chances of a new nurse getting hired in WA right now? I am not picky about the area of nursing to start, and prefer a med/surg position. Thanks in advance so much for your insight.

Hi llg, Thanks for responding back to me. Actually visiting would be the best thing to do. Heck, it may even give me a good excuse to take a mini vacation this year and go back home to visit my family. I asked my mother to put her feelers out for me. She works in a deli, and runs into all kinds of people. I guess it all comes down to having faith that, no matter if I get "there" and don't like it, I can always look around for something else, and with a good heart and right intentions, the right job will present itself. Maybe that's a bit too optimistic given our economy, but then again, I think things are starting to look up. Thank you for the kind words.

Hi everyone, I've been working as a nurse for the past 9 months since graduation. Things get so hard, and I say in my head, "I hate this stuff," but at the end of the day, I still love it. I love the adrenaline, the team work, the business of it all. I am surprised that everyone has been so supportive and helpful. I thought nurses ate their young. I am sure they do most places, but I guess I got lucky. Funny thing is, I have my job due to a scholarship I received, now I owe the hospital 2 years. I work on a floor at night with between 5-7 patients. Most are diabetic, on dialysis, CAPD, tele, or detoxing (or a combo of all). I guess I get out late a 1/3 of the time. Just the other night with 7 patients, I had a detoxer who needed meds every hour, a diabetic whose volitile sugars were all over the map, a new CA pt with IV meds q 4 hr, another pt in pain with IVP meds q4, a pt with 15 beats of Vtach (lots of phone time with really nice docs), and the rest just don't stand out to me right now. But point is, a co-worker agreed to do some of my charting (part of which is allowed at my facility). It's always an ego blow when this happens, and thankfully it's not frequent, but I'm just glad she was loving enough to do it. I really am happy to work where I work. Thing is, I hate where I live and fully intend to leave. I am scared to death to leave my happy work place. Don't get me wrong, I know there are back biters, I know who they are, I know most are tired, burnt out, etc. It's just how they treat me on the spot, and it's a lot to do with humility, willingness to learn, and willingness to forgive one another. Principals that don't always pan out, but good ones to have on hand in all situations given the other options... So, how do you find out what it's like to work at a specific hospital before applying? I would work for LESS MONEY in order to have greater workplace satisfaction. I would quit a place that placed my license in jeopardy. Guys, what do you say? strings

There's no way anyone could grab onto something flat, the size of a fruit fly.

Hi Laura, Just wanted to drop back in and say thank you for responding to my question. I have so badly always wanted a nose ring, and maybe now I'll get one. We'll see...I've always adored women of Persian and Indian culture for their beauty, and a nose ring just accentuates the beauty. it's just that the MRSA concept was always in the back of my mind. We'll see. I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks again for your post.